12 replies to this topic

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I just want some idea of how long this is going to go on.

[mikefromillinois]

Will depend a lot on your "progress".  4-6 weeks is probably typical.  The good news is that over time the test intervals get longer.  I have been going every six months for a couple years now (diagnosed in 2011).

 

It gets better.  Hang in there...

[hannibellemo]

I think a safe answer would be until you reach complete hematological response (all blood counts in "normal" or slightly below normal range).

 

Then every month, then every 2 months, 3months, etc. As long as you are tolerating the drug well and your counts are relatively normal (not too low) then you should be weaning off the every week test. It's been 6+ years for me and I'm still seen every 3 months with a PCR every 6 months. I could probably go longer then every 3 months, I've just never asked him about it. 

 

Now I think I will. 

[mariebow]

At first I went about three times a week, then once a week and for a three years now, I am going every three months.

[gerry]

When I got to MMR it went to six monthly, now I've stopped it has gone back to every two months. Hoping to eventually get it to quarterly.

[Antilogical]

When I started on Gleevec in 2012, I had blood tests weekly for the month I was on allopurinal so my hem/onc could fine-tune my dosage, then it went to bi-weekly till my next exam.  After that I've had blood tests every 3 or 4 months.  My onc says he's ready to extend it to every 6 months.

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WOW!!! Thanks!

[------]

Went to see my onc today. I start going every two weeks now.  He is trying to take some stress off of me probably because I started crying while I was there.  I can't seem to talk about anything without crying.  LOL at myself.    

[Antilogical]

It wasn't the tears, MDJ4L.  You are ready.  Enjoy!

[Billie Murawski]

I went a couple times a week at first then every 2 weeks and eventially once a month which I still get.

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[gerry]

For the first couple of months after being diagnosed, I used to cry in the shower and could feel the tears well up in my eyes when I talked about it. It will get easier.

[pammartin]

I had to look back at my records, I forgot what I had to do.  For the first three weeks I had to go daily, but my platelets were very high, they were watching them more than anything else.  Then I moved to weekly, which was for about three months.  When my platelets plummeted I had to go back to weekly for a few weeks, then as they recovered it was monthly again.

 

Shortly after I started on the three month testing cycle, and I continue this today.

 

Those first weeks are not great, you don't feel well, you have to drag yourself in and get stuck with a needle constantly, and you don't often have the energy to get dressed.  It will get better, and you will get past all this attention.

 

My greatest day is when I became boring to my oncologist. 

 

Take care

 

Pam